CB1 Tribeca Committee: The Unofficial Minutes

HEALTH CLUB PERMITS FOR SOULCYCLE, THE WAT, AND ANCIENT BATH
(Ancient Bath is discussed here.) New fitness facilities must get approval by the local community board to make sure they’re not incompatible with the neighborhood. What was striking about the discussion was the committee’s utter unfamiliarity with SoulCycle, which to a certain part of Tribeca became an instant institution upon its opening. One member insisted that all have defibrillators on hand.

REQUEST TO CREATE A CLOCK TOWER AT THE SOUTHERN TIP OF BOGARDUS TRIANGLE
Tory Weil and Christine Fahey of the Friends of Bogardus Garden took the committee through the proposal, which is budgeted at just under $75,000. (The clock is $18K, the electrical work is $30K, and the installation is $18K.) After the tree in that spot died, they thought something should go there, and why not a clock? It won’t be custom made, and it’ll be a “dead ringer” for the four-sided one outside J&R, except it’ll be two-sided. Whether those sides face east-west or north-south appears to be undecided. Any opinions? (A three-sided clock would have to be custom-made, and therefore much more expensive.) P.S. A local has already donated the cost of the clock itself. Other donations can be made here.

STREET CLOSURE REQUEST FOR TWO EVENTS AT DUANE PARK
Karie Parker-Davidson of the Friends of Duane Park explained that the group wants to close the northern part of Duane that runs between Staple and Hudson for two events. Kids of Duane Park (June 11, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.) will have old-fashioned games and activities such as three-legged races, hopscotch, and jump rope. (I was just thinking about how I’ve always wanted to sit in a dunking booth! Seriously!) On July 14 (6–9 p.m.), they want to throw an “Adult Swing” party—with swing dancing, that is. Both times the street would be closed a bit earlier and later than the events themselves. There was no objection to the kids’ party, but one public member of the committee—in a very Footloose moment—expressed concerns about the dancing, and how Duane Street was being forced to bear the brunt of so many events (Taste of Tribeca, Tribeca Family Fest, JCP events…). It was pointed out several times that because Duane splits into a Y, this isn’t really much of a burden, and good sense prevailed.

LIQUOR-LICENSE REQUEST FOR KUTSHER’S
Read all about it here.

LIQUOR-LICENSE REQUEST FOR JUNG SIK
We already know what to expect from the high-end Korean restaurant coming to the old Chanterelle space, which made the rep’s statement afterward, that the restaurant has an exclusive with the New York Times, feel a bit quaint. There’ll be 22 tables and six seats at the bar. The rep did mention that chef Jung Sik Yim is in talks with Bravo.

PROPOSAL BY CANAL AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY FOR “NO LEFT TURN” ON CANAL STREET
If I understood correctly, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council has proposed—as part of a bigger group of proposals—that the Department of Transportation should basically eliminate every left turn (east or west) off of Canal between W. Broadway and Lafayette. This would turn Canal into a thoroughfare, which would be great for drivers going between the Holland Tunnel and the Manhattan Bridge, but maybe not so hot for residents and businesses in neighboring areas. It was decided that the committee would like to learn more about the study. (Want to solve the Canal Street problem? Two words: congestion pricing.)

PROPOSAL TO CONVERT HORSE STABLES AT THE FIRST PRECINCT TO WTC POLICE COMMAND
There was understandable outrage that the NYPD would get rid of the stables, which are almost 100 years old, said one committee member. And there was concern about having what could be a terrorism target in the neighborhood (above a subway line, no less). The status of the plan was unclear, although one member did say he had asked a member of the mounted police, who said he had heard it was a “done deal.” Audience member Suellen Epstein offered to contact area preschools to start a campaign: “I will cry for days if this happens.” It really is a shame—and I’ll say it again: Isn’t there somewhere closer to the WTC? In that entire compound, did they really not budget space to house security? Can it truly be argued that the security forces should be 13 blocks away, in a residential neighborhood? I’m getting feisty/angry! I hereby offer up my resources, including this bullhorn, for the cause. If anyone wants to mobilize, I’m at tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

COUNTERFEIT GOOD LEGISLATION
There was discussion about Councilmember Margaret Chin’s proposed legislation that would penalize buyers of counterfeit good with fees and even possibly jail time. I didn’t listen much, because it has to go in front of the Quality of Life Committee, and anyway, I’m not sure that CB1’s opinion will carry much weight on this topic. And I was hungry.

Here’s the photo I mentioned in the comments:

 

8 Comments

  1. “Cry for days?” Seriously? I think the NYPD has a better sense of what/where than a bunch of preschoolers. But that’s just me.

  2. I neglected to mention one more reason brought up last night why the stables might not be great for a WTC command center: The parking situation around there is pretty bad already—cops park their cars everywhere, including on sidewalks (see photo I added to the post)—and presumably there’d be a lot more cars than there are now.

    @Jim: No one was suggesting canvassing the preschoolers for their opinions. But no doubt young kids love seeing the horses (I know I do).

  3. @Erik – Then what’s the purpose of contacting preschools to start a campaign? To ask the young kids: #1. Do you think that Precinct 1 has adequate parking for a potential WTC Command Center? or #2. Do you want the horseys to stay? Sorry, Mr. Police Commissioner, but I think lil’ Bobby said it best, “Ewwww, that horse poop stinks!” The horses stay! Go build your WTC Command Center where there is adequate parking in Tribeca….oh, wait.

  4. @Jim: The point would be to get the parents onboard.

  5. @Erik – Then you’re missing my point. The horses are part of the police department, not a petting zoo.

  6. Come on, Erik, I was just horsing around. I still love ya!

  7. @Erik – I love our make-up comments.